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ASUU: Strike Hits 196th Day, Union To Decide Today

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A meeting of the National Executive Council of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities started in Abuja on Sunday.

The union is expected to take a final decision on whether to continue its industrial action that entered the 196th day on Monday (today) at the meeting holding at its national headquarters at the University of Abuja.

As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still ongoing amidst anxiety that the union may extend the strike based on the outcomes of the meetings of most of its branches held last week.

ASUU had declared the commencement of a strike on Monday, February 14, 2022, at the University of Lagos.

A member of the NEC under anonymity said that most local congresses voted for strike extension.

“We expect nothing less. Most of the congresses voted for an indefinite strike. The NEC takes decisions based on the reports from branches,” he said.

Another member said, “I can confidently tell you that the majority of ASUU branches across the country voted for an indefinite strike. Over 90% voted for an indefinite strike. “’

Education ministry kicks
The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, in an interview, explained that the government had taken all possible steps to end the strike.

He said, “As regards the next steps, the government has already inaugurated a committee to harmonise the IPPIS, UTAS, and UP3. This will ensure that the government will pay with only one payment platform that will harmonise all the technical peculiarities.

“If you bring some demands and almost 80% have been attended to, there is no need to drag the strike anymore.

“It is unreasonable for the strike to be lingering seeing as the government has worked towards fulfilling most of the demands.”

NAPTAN wades in
The Public Relations Officer, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo in an interview, alleged that the university teachers were adamant about the strike because most of them work elsewhere.

Ekundayo said, “We have found ourselves in an unfortunate situation and, under normal circumstances, parents should not offer such incentives and help that they rejected, but we discovered that we are at the receiving end and bearing the effect of the problem between FG and ASUU.

“And at the end of the day, ASUU will still collect their salary for the work they didn’t even do. Likewise, the Federal Government has nothing to lose. Their children are in private universities.

“Many of the ASUU professors are part-time lecturers at private universities; they are behaving like this because they don’t have anything to lose. I am telling you that they will push parents and students to a level they won’t be able to tolerate.”

CONUA reacts
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Congress of University Academics, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, called for broader discussions that include more stakeholders in the tertiary education sector.

Sunmonu said, “The only solution is for the government to provide an immediate measure and then short-term and long-term steps. From what we read in the papers, it appears there has been a breakdown of trust between the two parties involved. The stakeholders involved in university education are more than two; the union on one side and the government on the other side.

“We have parents and alumni who are very concerned about the existence of their universities; we also have corporate bodies who are interested in the outputs of the universities. That is the best short-term solution the government should apply to resolve this issue.”

Seadogs backs ASUU
Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) on Sunday blamed the Federal Government’s disdain for education as the reason for the lingering industrial action by ASUU.

In a statement titled, “FG’s hollow hubris prolonging ASUU strike,” the NAS leader, Abiola Owoaje, described the stand of the Federal Government as “ill-conceived, reckless, and insensitive to the plight of students, parents, the university system, and Nigeria as a country.”

Owoaje said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s aloofness on critical issues such as the ASUU strike is disappointing. His ministers, taking a cue from him, have treated the issues raised by ASUU with levity and utmost contempt.

Credit: The Punch

BIG STORY

How I Survived Suicidal Thoughts, 14 Heartbreaks, 15 Abortions, Divorce And Alcoholism — Lara Kudayisi Don-Momoh [VIDEO]

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Renowned Author, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Family Life Coach Lara Kudayisi Don- Momoh popularly known as DearCoachLara shares insight into how she overcame life challenges such as Suicidal thoughts, several heartbreaks, alcoholism etc.

DearCoachLara who’s life story went viral because she healed from having a child at 19, underwent 14 heartbreaks, experienced 15 abortions and a divorce, has since dedicated her life to helping other heal after overcoming life challenges.

“If you know the story of my life, you will know that I have come a long way.

I was a walking pain.

Pain was my middle name.

I escaped into Alcohol. I became an Alcoholic for a bit as I couldn’t sleep except I downed vodka.

I even tried to end it all at some point because I was tired of doing all of these, but that day, I remembered my 15-year-old daughter at the time and my 3-year-old son even though I wanted to end the pain, I didn’t want to die.

So, I went on a journey of Healing. A journey of Rehabilitation. A Journey of Creating a New Beginning and today, we are here.

I see you.

I see your pain and anguish and I want to help you” she said.

Book a session with DearCoachLara today so she can help you heal, find joy, and create a new beginning.

Send her a DM on Instagram @dearcoachlara, visit www.larakudayisiinternational.com, or Call 08039927467 now.

 

  • About DearCoachLara

Lara Kudayisi Don- Momoh is a Certified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Family Life Coach popularly known as DearCoachLara, She specializes in Healing, Family Life and Mind Reprogramming.

Lara Kudayisi Don- Momoh is a practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), an Eriksonian Hypnosis expert, a Neurological Repatterning coach, Performance Consultant, Family Life Coach, Emotional Intelligence coach, Anger Management advisor, Fear Mastery Coach and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.

She helps people heal from Childhood Dysfunctions and Emotional Traumas through her program; THE HEALING SCHOOL and her private Therapy Sessions.

She is also the Chief Executive Officer of LARA KUDAYISI INTERNATIONAL; an organization that specializes in Therapy, Coaching, Couple’s Therapy, Finding Love After Trauma, Life After Divorce and Coaching Certification.

She is the Author of 4 books namely;

1. DEAR LARA WHAT DO I DO?

2. WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TASTE IN MEN(for Single Ladies)

3. HOW THE MATCHMAKER’S MARRIAGE FAILED; a memoir and a proper documentation of her life story of Childhood Dysfunction, Call to Purpose, Marriage and Divorce and )

4. And her most recent work; The 31 Days Healing Plan.

She owns and present her own show called HOW THEY HEALED on Africa Magic Family which features the healing journey of numerous celebrities from their trauma and emotional pain.

She has also produced a TV series called DEAR COACH LARA that can be watched on her YouTube Channel.

Her story has been featured in so many media outlasts like The Nation Newspaper, This Day, The Guardian, BBC, TVC, Wazobia TV, Channels TV, Pop Central, Ebony Life TV, R2TV, Spice TV, Nigerian Info, City fm and so on and so forth.

She is active online as @Dearcoachlara on Instagram and YouTube, @LaraKudayisi on Twitter, LinkedIn and LaraKudayisiPage on Facebook.

She is happily married with two children and counting.

 

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Police Arrest Yahaya Bello’s ADC, Security Details

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The Nigeria Police Force has detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp to embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Saturday PUNCH is reporting.

The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached to 48-year-old Bello and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Their arrests and detention followed a Thursday night order by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.

Senior police sources, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity because they did not have authorization to comment publicly on the matter, noted that the officers were arrested on the suspicion that they aided and abetted Bello’s escape from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who had gone to effect his arrest at his Abuja home on Wednesday.

“The ADC and the other police details attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained.

“They were arrested on the order of the IG, on the suspicion that they aided and abetted the former governor’s escape from the EFCC on Wednesday,” one of the sources told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Friday.

Another source said, “Yahaya Bello’s female ADC and other police officers attached to him were brought to the command this morning, and they’ve been detained for aiding and abetting (the governor’s escape).”

Egbetokun had, on Thursday night, ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to Bello.

The order for the withdrawal was contained in a police wireless message sighted by our correspondent on Friday morning.

The document read, “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL.

“DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X Nigeria police have ordered the withdrawal of all men.

“Police attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please above for your information and strict compliance.”

Also, the Federal Government had on Thursday night placed Bello on a watch list.

In a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Thursday night, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, revealed that Bello was placed on a watchlist for conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering.

The Assistant Comptroller General signed the document and copied the Nigeria Customs Service, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Director of the National Internet Agency.

The document read, “I am directed to inform you that the above-named person has been placed on a watch list. Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V 1/279 dated April 18, 2024.

“If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation, or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.

“Please, accept as always the Comptroller-General’s warmest regards and esteem.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier declared Bello wanted for laundering the sum of N80,246,470,088.88.

The development was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday, with a snapshot of the embattled ex-governor attached.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).

“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission.”

Bello had, on Thursday, failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja following his arraignment by the EFCC.

The embattled former governor was arraigned in absentia before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering.

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BIG STORY

Access Holdings’ Shareholders Unanimously Back Capital Raising Plan, Hail Aig-Imoukhuede’s Return As Chairman

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  • Re-elect Olusegun Ogbonnewo, Ojinika Olaghere as a Non-Executive Directors

 

The shareholders of Access Holdings Plc (“Access Holdings” or “the Group”) at the 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday, April 19, 2024, unanimously backed the Group’s plan to establish a capital raising programme of up to US$1.5 billion as well as the subset initiative to raise up to N365 billion, specifically, through a Rights Issue of ordinary shares to its shareholders.

The proceeds of the Rights Issue would be used to support on-going working capital needs, including organic growth funding for its banking and other non-banking subsidiaries.

The shareholders also ratified the appointments of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Olusegun Ogbonnewo, and Ojinika Olaghere as Non-Executive Directors.

The appointment of Aig-Imoukhuede as the Chairman of Access Holdings was praised by the shareholders, who pointed to his rich history of success with the institution, having transformed it into Nigeria’s biggest lender by market value alongside Herbert Wigwe. Aigboje’s leadership was instrumental in driving the institution’s growth during the 2004 recapitalisation of the banking industry led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of its former Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo.

“We are thrilled with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s return to the role of Chairman. His proven track record, experience, and strategic insights position him as the ideal leader to steer Access Holdings towards meeting its lofty targets. During his tenure as CEO, particularly during the recapitalisation directive by the CBN, he steered Access Bank to raise an impressive $2 billion in capital, and this demonstrates his capacity to, once again, lead Access Holdings towards successfully achieving the objectives of our planned Capital Raise and Rights Issue targets,” said Chief Sunny Nwosu, Chairman Emeritus of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN).

In line with the Group’s strong financial performance, the payment of a final dividend of N1.80 kobo per every N0.50 Kobo ordinary share for the 2023 financial year was approved, marking a 28 per cent improvement from the corresponding period in 2022.

The Group’s full-year results for the period ending December 31, 2023, showcased an impressive 335 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to N729 billion from N167.68 billion in 2022. The Group also experienced an 87 per cent surge in gross earnings to N2.59 trillion from N1.39 trillion in 2022 and reported a remarkable 306 per cent growth in profit after tax to N619.32 billion, from N152.20 billion in 2022.

Commencing in the second half of 2024, Access Holdings’ global expansion strategy will enter the consolidation and efficiency phase, aligning with its five-year plan to accelerate the attainment of its 2027 strategic objectives. The Group remains focused on driving sustainable growth, and delivering value to its shareholders even as it continues to build a globally connected community and ecosystem, inspired by Africa, for the world.

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